Chidiebere Nwakali

Chidiebere Chijioke Nwakali (// ^ⓘ; born 26 December 1996) is a Nigerian professional footballer who currently plays for Al-Sahel as a defender.

Chidiebere Nwakali

Personal information
Full name	Chidiebere Chijioke Nwakali
Date of birth	(1996-12-26) 26 December 1996 (age 28)
Place of birth	Owerri, Nigeria
Height	1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Position(s)	Defender
Team information
Current team	Al-Sahel
Number	5
Youth career
	Shuttle Sports Academy
2014–2015	Manchester City
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2015–2018	Manchester City	0	(0)
2015	→ Málaga B (loan)	2	(0)
2015–2016	→ Girona (loan)	0	(0)
2016	→ Start (loan)	22	(3)
2017	→ Sogndal (loan)	26	(4)
2018	→ Aberdeen (loan)	5	(0)
2018	Raków Częstochowa	1	(0)
2019–2020	Kalmar FF	0	(0)
2020–2021	Tuzlaspor	2	(0)
2021–2023	Tuwaiq
2023–2024	Al-Jubail
2024–	Al-Sahel	1	(1)
International career
2013	Nigeria U17	8	(2)
2015	Nigeria U20	1	(0)
Medal record Men's football Representing  Nigeria FIFA U-17 World Cup Winner 2013 United Arab Emirates
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 10:32, 26 December 2023 (UTC)

Club career

On 20 January 2014, Nwakali signed a four-year deal with Manchester City from Shuttle Sports Academy, after impressing with Nigeria under-17s in 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup.^[1] He was also a part of the first team's pre-season tour to USA in July.^[2]

On 31 January 2015, Nwakali was loaned to Málaga CF until June 2017, being assigned to the reserves in Tercera División.^[3][4] He made his senior debut on 22 February, starting in a 1–0 home win against Antequera CF.^[5]

On 31 August 2015, Nwakali was loaned to Segunda División side Girona FC, in a season-long deal.^[6] However, he had to wait until 5 October to be officially available, due to a work permit.^[7]

On 31 March 2016, Nwakali terminated his loan with the Catalans, after failing to play a single minute for the club, and immediately joined Tippeligaen side IK Start.^[8] On 2 April he made his professional debut, coming on as a second-half substitute for Mathias Rasmussen in a 1–0 home loss against Viking FK.^[9]

On 8 February 2017, Nwakali moved to Sogndal Fotball on loan.^[10]

He was then loaned to Aberdeen in January 2018.^[11][12]

In summer 2018, he joined Polish club Raków Częstochowa but after just two appearances in all competitions, he left the club for personal reasons.^[13]

On 22 January 2019, Kalmar FF announced that they had signed Nwakali on a four-year contract.^[14] In February 2020 Nwakali was sacked from Kalmar FF over his failure to return on time from Christmas break ^[15]

On 21 May, Nwakali traveled to the remote Faroe Islands for a trial with last season's champions, KÍ Klaksvík.^[16]

On 9 September 2023, Nwakali joined Al-Jubail.^[17]

Career statistics

As of 27 July 2018^[18]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National Cup		League Cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Manchester City	2014–15	Premier League	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	2015–16	Premier League	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	2016–17	Premier League	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	2017–18	Premier League	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	Total		0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Girona (loan)	2015–16	Segunda División	0	0	0	0	–		0	0	0	0
IK Start (loan)	2016	Tippeligaen	22	3	1	0	—		—		23	3
Sogndal (loan)	2017	Eliteserien	26	4	1	0	—		1[a]	0	28	4
Aberdeen (loan)	2017–18	Scottish Premiership	5	0	3	0	0	0	0	0	8	0
Career total			53	7	5	0	0	0	1	0	59	7

1. Appearance in the Eliteserien relegation play-offs

Honours

Nigeria U17

• FIFA U-17 World Cup: 2013